What is roseola?
Roseola is a common infection caused by a virus. It is most common in children between 6 and 24 months. Children younger than 4 months or older than 4 years usually don’t get it.
How is it spread?
Roseola spreads when children come in contact with the saliva of a person who has it, even if the person has no symptoms. Saliva can come from sneezing, coughing or just touching someone who has the virus on their hands or other body parts.
What are the symptoms of roseola?
- It usually starts with a high fever (often over 39.5°C or 103° F) that lasts for 3 to 5 days.
- Most children are not very sick during the fever stage. But for some children the fever is very high and can cause febrile seizures (or convulsions).
- Your child may be cranky and irritable.
- The fever will end and at about the same time you’ll see a rash of small red spots on your child’s face and body. The spots turn white when you touch them and they might have a lighter ring around them. They can last anywhere from a couple of hours to 2 days.
What can parents do?
It is hard to diagnose roseola until the rash comes out. Children with roseola get better without any treatment. It usually doesn’t cause more serious problems.
You can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Ibuprofen should only be given if your child is drinking reasonably well. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months without first talking to your doctor.
Talk to your doctor if your child:
- Has a fever for more than 72 hours or is under 6 months old and has a fever.
- Has a seizure.
Source: Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care (3rd edition)
Reviewed by the following CPS Committees:
Public Education Advisory Committee
Last updated: May 2008
